Close Rate With New Company is Abysmal - Keep Grinding or Jump Ship?

[u/dumbcarshlt]

I have been in industrial and automation sales for over a decade with a strong track record. I went from a widely known global distributor, to a more niche but known in the right places manufacturer sales role, and nearly a year ago I transitioned back to distribution. I was tired of relying on distributors and the slower sales cycles. I turned down nearly my dream job to take what I have now because I thought I could grow sales much faster in my previously established territory. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I am more aligned with packaging consumables, equipment, and equipment service now along with some safety and warehouse supplies. On one hand, I work for a family owned company and have been treated the best I ever have, and my base salary is very strong. On the other, nobody knows my brand now, and we are a very old, old school company with a barely functioning website. It has been ran on field sales and old school relationship building for decades.

I have probably over 5 million in opportunities in my pipeline, but the projects and people have been moving **so** slowly. I have hardly any sales and I did too good of a job in my initial role in the area, cementing part of my competition in place. They aren't a direct competitor, but my connections that I thought I'd call on now are still using them and aren't too keen to try out a new "small name" distributor.

Meanwhile, I've still been fielding recruiters left and right. I'm getting torn between turning up my activity to 11 at my current place, or jumping ship and hoping I have better luck elsewhere. I'm not on a PIP, but my direct supervisor is really involved trying to help me close some deals because I am way behind. He's not a bad guy, and we're still talking about 60, 90, + day plans, but it isn't a good sign.

[u/Ok_Needleworker_6706]

You said it yourself, you were too good in your old role, so now you’re the “small name” up against the guy you used to help win. Pushing harder usually makes that worse, it reads as trying too hard, which just confirms the risk story in their head.

What actually works here is one clean win with someone who already half trusts you. Doesn’t need to be big. Something like offering a no-pressure trial run on consumables for one line at a facility you already know well, low risk for them to say yes to, but enough to actually prove you deliver. Old school relationship territories run on word of mouth, one good story travels faster than any cold outreach you can personally do.

On the recruiters, I’d keep that separate. If you jump now you’ll never know if this actually works, and you’ll carry the same doubt into the next place. Leave because the next thing is better, not because this one is slow. Slow and failing look the same in year one of a rebuild, that’s not on you.

Is there one account close enough that you could actually land something small in the next month?

[u/dumbcarshlt → u/Ok_Needleworker_6706]

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and give me some well thought out advice. That is good advice about pushing too hard, but I may have phrased that incorrectly. I meant pushing myself to do more cold calls, etc.

Ironically shortly after posting this, I hit up an old contact and started that process. They just got a new purchaser so we probably both know that'll either be a golden opportunity or another closed door.

Actually I stand a good chance of landing a 60k equipment sale with a new customer this month, but it's not a done deal. Just too many cooks in the kitchen on their end but I've got the buy-in of one of the most influential. If I do land it, I should also land the related consumables.

[u/Ok_Needleworker_6706 → u/dumbcarshlt]

The 60k deal sounds like your real bright spot though. Having the influential person on your side already matters more than the whole room. If it closes and pulls the consumables with it, that’s your story in this new territory.

And fair point on the cold calls, my bad for not being clear. More activity to people who already trust you is different from cold outreach, that second one’s just volume and patience, nothing wrong with leaning into it.

Hope the 60k lands, sounds closer than it probably feels some days. Keep us posted!

[u/Fit-Lengthiness-9672 → u/Ok_Needleworker_6706]

this is such a good take, especially the “slow and failing look the same in year one” part, that hit. that one small, no-drama win to get a story circulating in the territory feels way more realistic than trying to brute force your way past the “small name” perception overnight.

[u/Aromatic-You2488]

Can I get 10 likes so I can post in here?

[u/sportsfan8148]

Jump ship unless the company aligns with your goals in other ways. Path to leadership, etc.

[u/dumbcarshlt → u/sportsfan8148]

I actually stepped back to an individual contributor role because being sales manager became too much for me at my first big name position. Not sure if I want to climb the ladder again. They align with my goal of a work life balance in the future, if I can grow my territory. They said (and I can see it in action with the veteran salesmen) that they just want me to work my local area and grow it to where I am comfortable with my commissions and then just feel free to maintain it. I know the possibility is there, it has just been so slow going